Breaking Bad: Commitment Uncertainty, Alternative Monitoring, and Relationship Termination in Young Adults

Kelley Quirk*, Jesse Owen, Brad Shuck, Frank D. Fincham, Kayla Knopp, Galena Rhoades

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Commitment uncertainty represents an ongoing state of conflicted feelings or thoughts about the future of a relationship. It is currently an underexplored dynamic within romantic relationships and may be a key component of young adult relationships that may influence the likelihood of relationship termination. When commitment is uncertain, individuals may engage in serious monitoring of relationship alternatives. The authors examined the associations between commitment uncertainty, serious alternative monitoring, attachment style, and relationship termination. Results supported the hypothesis that higher levels of commitment uncertainty are related to greater likelihood of termination. Interestingly, serious monitoring of alternatives was not related to relationship termination. Implications are offered for the management of these important relational processes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)61-74
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Couple and Relationship Therapy
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2 2016

Keywords

  • attachment
  • commitment
  • commitment uncertainty
  • relationship termination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Social Psychology
  • Applied Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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